There’s a bit more choice with the Capresso, which is available in either a black or silver finish. And if you’re happy to spend a little more, there’s a better looking stainless steel version.

The bean hoppers are plastic too. In the case of the Capresso, the hopper is transparent, while that on the Baratza has a dark tint.

Some people argue that a tinted hopper is better for the coffee: light, they claim, can impair flavor. In actual fact, there’s no evidence of this. What’s more likely is that it is heat, often correlated with light, that does the damage.

Choosing a setting

You want your grinder to be able to grind at a range of different consistencies, depending on your chosen brew style.

If you’re using a French press, you’ll need a coarser setting, whilst espresso will need fine grounds.

The settings on both machines are easy to change, and you can even do it while they’re grinding.

You simply turn the hopper so that the indicator at the bottom moves along a dial indicating grind size. It’s exactly the same method for both grinders.

Where there is a difference is the number of settings available. The Capresso Infinity gives you a choice of 16 settings, whilst the Baratza Encore offers no fewer than 40.

That means with the Baratza you’ll have greater flexibility to fine tune the grind size.

Consistency

Even an entry level burr grinder doesn’t come cheap. Before you invest in one, you want to know it will give you those all-important even grounds. So how do the Baratza and Capresso measure up?

Both do pretty well, but there are limitations.

They work in the same way: as you adjust the settings, the burrs get closer together or further apart. That means that at coarser settings, the grounds are less consistent in size. And yes, that’s an issue with both the Baratza and the Capresso.

There are also some restrictions in the fineness of grind you can achieve. Both machines can struggle to produce the powdery consistency you need for Turkish coffee. If that’s your beverage of choice, you may find you’re better off investing in a specialist kit.

Both the Baratza and Capresso are, though, ideal for good quality drip or pour-over coffee. They’ll give you a pretty consistent grind at medium coarseness.

The larger spaces between the burrs at coarser settings will mean less even results. But you’ll still get a decent coffee with a French press too.

When it comes to espresso, the fine settings may not be quite fine enough unless you have a pressurized portafilter.

If you’re looking for a grinder to use primarily for espresso, you may need to spend a little more.

In short, there’s not much to choose between these two machines when it comes to the consistency of the grind.

Speed – and why fast isn’t always good

You might imagine that you want your grinder to work as fast as possible. But this is one instance where speed isn’t a virtue.

When burr grinders are rotating they generate heat – and as we’ve already seen, that can impair flavor.

With that in mind, a slower grind is usually considered better, because it limits heat generation. This is another area where there’s a difference between the two grinders.

Both the Baratza and Capresso use gear speed reducers to slow the grind. The Baratza grinds at 450 revolutions per minute.

The Capresso, though, comes in fractionally slower. It is, in fact, the slowest grinder in its class.

We’re talking about fine margins here. The reality is that the difference in the amount of heat generated is very small.

And we seriously doubt it’s going to result in any real difference to the flavor of your coffee.

Strangely, although the burrs grind more slowly, the Capresso manages to produce results faster than the Baratza.

It will take about 13 seconds to grind enough coffee for a double shot of espresso. The Baratza, on the other hand, will take about 22 seconds for the same amount.

Silence is golden

Related to the issue of speed is that of noise. Grinding coffee beans isn’t a quiet business: those metal burrs will be hitting the beans multiple times.

If you’re anything like me first thing in the morning, that kind of racket won’t appeal.

Here, the Capresso has a real advantage: it’s noticeably quieter than the Baratza. You can compare for yourself with these two great YouTube videos from Seattle Coffee Gear.

First up, here’s a review of the Baratza. You can see – and hear – it in action grinding some beans about five minutes in.